I'm delighted to share the School Library Journal review of GOLD SPUN!
Gr 7 Up–Nor Molnár has always done whatever it takes for her family to survive and has become an adept con artist in the process. Finding herself in possession of a thread of pure gold from a faerie, she develops her best plan yet: Convince the people of a local village she can spin straw into gold. When Prince Casper happens upon her scheme, he attempts to call out her trickery by bringing her to the palace and ordering her to transform the remaining straw for the kingdom. Confronted with precarious odds and a marriage proposal, Nor must continue to spin her lies or face the consequences. June shines in this retelling of “Rumpelstiltskin,” giving the perspective of the miller’s daughter from the traditional fairytale. There is an emphasis throughout on the cautionary tale that everything comes with a price, as characters navigate through their choices. Nor is a strong, albeit flawed, protagonist who readers will invest in. The supplemental characters are equally captivating and their individual stories weave together a page-turning journey.
VERDICT An enchanting retelling with memorable characters that will appeal to a broad range of fantasy readers. A strong choice.
